In Luke 2:41-50 we are told of the time “the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43) after the Feast of the Passover. Once His family realized He was not with them on their return journey home, they returned to Jerusalem to find Him. Three days later, He was found in the temple, listening and asking questions of the teachers. His mother questioned Him concerning His decision to stay behind and He told her in verse 49: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” At the age of 12 years old, Jesus was aware of His responsibility to do His Father’s will. Once He was out and teaching as an adult, He re-enforced this fact in John 9:4-5: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” We know that Jesus is our Savior, Teacher, and Encourager. He set the example in being “being about our Father’s business. He wants us to:
- Have a desire in doing our Father’s business (Matt. 17:24-27). He encourages us to put Him first and follow Him. If we are content with the things of this world, it will be at the expense of our soul. He wants us to focus our time on the spiritual things. The material things and blessings we experience now are to provide us with a measure of comfort in a sinful world. It is nothing compared to the heavenly blessings that await us if we have that desire to take up His cross.
- Have love for the souls of man in doing our Father’s business (John 15:9-14). He wants us to keep His commandments and realize He loves us as His Father loves Him. This love is to extend from us to our fellow man (v.12). We need to love the souls of man and use that love to teach them, even if it costs us our life (v. 13). To love Him is to be willing to do all we can in teaching His gospel in the toughest of circumstances (John 13:34-35).
- Show obedience in doing our Father’s business (Heb. 5:5-9; Mark 16:15-16). Jesus set the example obedience and we must follow it. He was obedient in carrying out the Father’s will and so must we be.
Jesus came to earth to be about the Father’s business (Heb. 10:7). His dedication to that will is ultimately seen in His willingness to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. As His people, we ought to dedicate ourselves to following in His obedient footsteps. We ought to make the Father’s business our priority and lovingly obey Him in all things.